Mary Robinson says Israel in ‘serious breach’ of international law, condemns war crimes on both sides
by SubstantialFeel
Mary Robinson says Israel in ‘serious breach’ of international law, condemns war crimes on both sides
by SubstantialFeel
3 comments
The article:
Former president Mary Robinson: Israel in “Serious Breach” of International Law with “Indiscriminate” Bombings of Gaza”
The death toll in the Gaza Strip has exceeded 1,300 people, of which are predominantly civilians, according to local authorities there.
In response to a number of violent attacks carried out by Palestinian militant group Hamas over the weekend, Israeli Defence Forces began a major bombing campaign on the Gaza Strip on Monday.
Speaking on RTÉ Radio One’s ‘News At One’ program this afternoon, Robinson, who is also the former UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, condemned the war crimes carried out by both Israel and Hamas.
Robinson said she had previously been told about Israel “was committing the crime of apartheid” in the West Bank region and Gaza Strip, territories which Palestine claims as its own.
However, Robinson said that crimes and attacks on civilians carried out by Hamas, such as the killing of Irish-Israeli citizen Kim Damtri on Saturday, are “not justified” despite “what has been happening to the Palestinian people under occupation.”
Robinson, who is a founding member of The Elders group of world leaders, became emotional when discussing the death of Damtri, which was confirmed last night.
She said: “We must not be ambivalent. There is no question we have to treat them separately. These are war crimes.”
The former president spoke of Israel’s response to this violence, which has equally seen a number of attacks on civilians and war crimes being committed, that she equally condemned.
“Already, sadly, Israel is in serious breach of its obligations. It is carrying out a massive, indiscriminate bombing of Gaza,” she said.
Nearly 190,000 people have been displaced in Gaza since the escalation of the conflict, according to the United Nations. The true extent of the death toll and injuries in the region remains unknown.
Water, food, fuel and electricity has also been cut off to the compact home to 2.3 million Palestinian people – one of the most densely populated areas in the world.
Robinson condemned the cutting off of supplies, and disagreed with its use by Israel to recover hostages taken by Hamas.
” You can’t compare this collective punishment against a whole population, many of whom don’t support or don’t like Hamas,” she added.
**EU’s Response to the Conflict**
Earlier this week, many Irish TDs and MEPs condemned the European Union’s response to the conflict, particularly highlighting similar concerns regarding the Israeli counter-attacks.
This was after a number of solidarity gestures, including flags being projected onto popular European landmarks and the European Commission HQ.
Robinson said that “safe havens” for civilians should be created, suggesting a better focus from the international community should be placed on protecting human lives.
She also welcomed the continuation of humanitarian aid from the EU.
Earlier this week, EU Commissioner Varhelyi announced on X, formerly Twitter, that the EU would be revoking all aid to Palestine, a move that was quickly shot down and reversed by the EU.
Speaking during Leaders Questions earlier today, Tánaiste Micheál Martin said that the EU’s Foreign Affairs Council made it clear that humanitarian and development aid to Palestinians would continue when he met with them on Tuesday.
“Ultimately, we need to move on a pathway to peace and reconciliation,” the Tánaiste said.
“It cannot be an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth approach.”
He added that the response of Commissioner Varhelyi does not reflect the EU’s response.
Robinson made a similar call this afternoon on RTÉ and said that Ireland can play an “important role” in the steps to resolve this current period of unrest in the region.
“I’m aware that Ireland has already been a very good voice in acknowledging the suffering of occupation, the continual problems for the Palestinians over decades, over 17 years of a blockade now on Gaza, and the continuing settlements in the Middle East which are making a two-state solution virtually impossible now,” she said.
“I think we all need to think about accountability,” she added.
“The point I want to get across – and Ireland may be able to play a role here – unfortunately, because Israel doesn’t want to be accountable, the United States has not supported the International Criminal Court in relation to Israel.
“It does in relation to Ukraine, but not Israel – and Western countries have been, to say the least, ambivalent and have not supported.
Now is the time to support accountability.”
Earlier in the Dáil, Social Democrats leader Holly Cairns says she is “deeply concerned” about European Union’s response to Israel’s attacks on Gaza.
Cairns said: “Civilians are being deliberately slaughtered. And the international community can’t muster up a single word of criticism for the Israeli government.”
“When Israel drops its bombs, civilians have nowhere to run.”
“Now they don’t have food, water, or electricity. Soon, the internet will also die, and they will be completely cut off from the world. The people of Gaza have days, a week at most.”
“We can play a powerful role, I think, as a neutral arbiter – if we’re willing to act, to lead, and to do so quickly,” she said.
Cairns directly asked Micheál Martin for his “position on the EU response”.
“I don’t accept your assessment of the EU response,” the Tánaiste said.
One of the biggest donors to Palestine is the European Union. So that’s not present the EU as somehow a body that’s how to undermine Palestinians.”
However, the Tánaiste said that International law and the Geneva Convention “must be adhered to” adding that the “vast majority of member states are very clear,- are very, very clear – in terms of continuing developmental aid and humanitarian aid.”
Yesterday in the Dáil, Taoiseach Leo Varadkar reasserted his stance that Israel could lose the support of the international community if its counter-offensive continued to target civilian infrastructure.
The Taoiseach drew a comparison with Vladimir Putin’s assaults on power stations in Ukraine to the Israeli bombings yesterday.
On Tuesday, he told RTÉ’s Nine O’Clock News that Ireland recognized Israel’s right to defend themselves, but warned the state that “any response must be proportionate.”
International law is a myth; they are merely [often flimsy] agreements between nations
Mary’s always been wary of the Israelis’ and it infamously cost her job as as UN High Commissioner (and likely the chance to be General Secretary)